Why vote?
The European Parliament is composed of 705 European members, who do not sit by nationality but by transnational policy groups (there are currently 8 in all) and work in the form of technical committees on all the EU’s areas of competence. The Parliament meets about once a month in Strasbourg to vote on legislative proposals.
Members of the European Parliament are elected every five years by direct universal suffrage. Seats are assigned depending on the number of inhabitants in each Member State, with States determining voting procedures, constituencies, eligibility conditions and settlement of electoral disputes.
When you vote in the European Parliamentary elections, it’s you and no one else who chooses the people who are going to be making key decisions on a daily basis:
As one of the European Union’s two legislative bodies, the Parliament may be regarded as “the voice of the citizens” in the EU: along with the Council of the European Union (composed of ministers from the Member States, who meet a hundred or so times a year to debate such fields as agriculture, foreign affairs and economic issues), it decides on legislative acts that have an impact on Europeans’ everyday lives, such as food safety and consumer protection, the environment, and most sectors of the economy.
The Parliament votes the EU’s annual budget established with the Council, and may exercise its right of adoption or overall rejection of the draft budget presented to it. It is also responsible for taking decisions on “non-compulsory” expenditures and may propose modifications to “compulsory” expenditures.
The Parliament exercises democratic scrutiny over the EU’s institutions (approval of the European Commission, for example).
The European Parliament’s approval is also required for most international agreements concluded by the EU. It also helps shape the EU’s development and humanitarian aid policy.
In addition, since 2014, the European elections have had a decisive impact on the appointment of the President of the European Commission: in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon (Article 17 § 7 TEU), the President of the European Executive may now be the chief candidate of the European elections majority party. When they cast their vote, voters therefore not only choose a list of Members of Parliament, they also express their preference for a Commission Presidency candidate.
A few examples of fields in which the European Parliament plays a role:
- Abolishing roaming fees in Europe.
- Adopting measures to limit the effects of global warming across the world by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of cars, industry and electricity plants.
- Protecting copyright in Europe in the digital age.
- Guaranteeing transparency in trade agreement negotiations between the EU and third countries.
- Guaranteeing protection of personal data.
- Defending the “equal work, equal pay” principle with revision of the Directive on posting of workers.
- Creating the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to combat fraud.
- Adopting antimoney laundering measures contributing to the fight against terrorism.
- Setting up a European Coast Guard and Border Guard Agency to control the EU’s external borders.
“Because Europe belongs to all of us, we should all take these decisions together. So it’s not only important that you vote, but also your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. When everybody votes, everybody wins.”
The next European Parliament elections take place on 23-26 May 2019 giving all adult EU citizens the opportunity to select who will represent them in the European Parliament. Help shape Europe’s future and vote!
The last European elections in 2014 were the largest transnational elections ever held at the same time. This time the stakes are even higher. By voting, you help decide what kind of Europe we have in the years to come.
The European elections in May 2019 will have a direct impact on your life. They will decide how Europe will act in the coming years to address your concerns about jobs, business, security, migration and climate change.
Because Europe belongs to all of us, we should all take these decisions together. So it’s not only important that you vote, but also your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. When everybody votes, everybody wins.
The European elections is about selecting who you want to represent you as an MEP and defend your interests in the EU. Not only can MEPs shape and decide on new legislation, they also vote on new trade agreements, scrutinise the EU institutions and how your tax money is spent, as well as launch investigations into specific issues.
Why should you vote in the European elections?
- because the world won’t wait till next time;
- because I want to protect my privacy;
- because we need to work together to secure our borders;
- because I want the right to live, love, study and work wherever I choose;
- because too many young people are still without work;
- because we need to work together to manage migration;
- because that gives our parliament the strength to hold power to account;
- because we need to tackle climate change right now;
- because we need to invest to help our economies grow;
- because I believe in human rights and the rights of minorities;
- because to defeat terrorism we all need to work together;
- because we need to work together to protect our environment;
- because I want the right to live in peace;
- because I believe in a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work;
- because I believe in turning solidarity into action;
- because I don’t want diversity to turn to division;
- because I’d rather take responsibility for the future than blame others for the present.
As with the post-electoral survey carried out following the 2009 European elections, there were few differences on the basis of gender. In general, men were more engaged in the electoral campaign than women and their turnout was higher. There were more pronounced differences between the different age groups. The youngest Europeans (18-24) are more positive about the European Union than the oldest (55+), even though far fewer of them turned out to vote.
Turnout was higher among men than women (45% / 41%). The gap increased from two percentage points in 2009 to four percentage points in 2014. – Turnout was again highest among the oldest respondents. Some 51% of the 55+ group voted in the European elections, while only 28% did in the 18-24 age group. This is relatively unchanged from 2009.
There are clear differences according to age and occupational category when it comes to the time at which the voting choice is made, but almost no difference by gender. – Young people were more inclined to decide on the day of the elections or a few day before (28%, compared with 11% for the 55+ group).
The two most common reasons people gave for voting was that it was their duty as citizens and that they always vote.
How to vote in the European Parliament Election:
Great! Now you’ve understood the importance of using your democratic right and voting in the European Parliament Elections you need to know how to vote!
Voting is easy, but varies by state. The first thing you need to do is make sure you are registered to vote.
NB: Nationals of Cyprus (by 1 April 2019) and Ireland (by 9 May 2019) need to register before they can vote.
Voting from abroad?
If you live in your home country, you can only vote for the EU candidates standing for election in your own country.
If you are registered and live in another EU country, you can:
- vote for candidates standing in your home country or
- participate in the election of your host country and vote for candidates standing in that country.
Compulsory voting
If voting in European elections is compulsory in your host country and, following your registration, you were put on the electoral roll of that country, you are obliged to vote – just as the nationals of that country are.
Voting is compulsory in Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, and Luxembourg.
The next European elections take place on 23-26 May 2019 giving all adult EU citizens the opportunity to select who will represent them in the European Parliament. Help shape Europe’s future and vote!
The last European elections in 2014 were the largest transnational elections ever held at the same time. This time the stakes are even higher. By voting, you help decide what kind of Europe we have in the years to come.
The European elections in May 2019 will have a direct impact on your life. They will decide how Europe will act in the coming years to address your concerns about jobs, business, security, migration and climate change.
Because Europe belongs to all of us, we should all take these decisions together. So it’s not only important that you vote, but also your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. When everybody votes, everybody wins.
Casting your vote
Although there are some common rules regarding the elections, some aspects can vary by country, such as whether it is possible to vote by mail or from abroad.
Specific details such as who the candidates will be and where your local polling station will gradually become available. For the latest data, check with your national election authority.
If you live in another EU country, you should be able to vote for your MEP there. If your country of origin allows voting from abroad, you might also have the option to vote there instead. To know if this is a possibility, check with your embassy. Of course, you can only vote once. So you either vote in your county of origin or in your new host country, not both.